Abstract: Ultrasound contrast agents having microbubbles of gas or a gas precursor encapsulated by non-proteinaceous crosslinked or polymerised amphiphilic moieties, e.g. in the form of micelles, exhibit good stability in vivo upon administration and may if desired incorporate biodegradable linkages so as to possess particular desired levels of biodegradability.

Abstract: Novel extended polymer surfactants comprising a methoxy-terminated polyethylene glycol hydrophilic block acylated with a hydrophobic moiety comprising a chain of at least two fatty acid units, e.g. an acyloxyacyl group such as 16-hexadecanoyloxyhexadecanoyl, are useful in the preparation of polymer-based gas-containing contrast agents by emulsion techniques.

Abstract: There is provided a contrast medium composition comprising: (a) a first contrast agent comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound, a physiologically tolerable reducing compound containing an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone group, or salt thereof, having a manganese concentration of at least 0.3 mM or being in a dosage unit form containing at least 300 .mu.mol manganese, together with (b) a second contrast agent. Such compositions have been found to be particularly suited to imaging of the liver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contrast agents comprising water-soluble microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles in admixture with at least 10% w/w relative to the overall composition of a non-surface active material which is less water soluble than the carbohydrate. The contrast agents exhibit useful levels of contrast efficiency and/or stability and may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer-based gas-containing contrast agents in which microbubbles of gas are encapsulated by non-polymerizable wall-forming block or graft copolymer surfactants. The polymer surfactants are preferably biodegradable and include block and graft copolymers containing linkages of formula (I):--(O).sub.m --CO--O--C(R.sup.1 R.sup.2)--O--CO--(O).sub.n --(I)where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a carbon-attached monovalent organic group, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a carbon-attached divalent organic group and m and n are each zero or 1.

Abstract: A method of crosslinking a crosslinkable protein or carbohydrate substrate to form a crosslinked substrate in which the crosslinking groups are biodegradable. The crosslinking groups may comprise methylene diacrylate and the substrate can be galactose.

Abstract: The invention relates to certain substituted derivatives of aminopolycarboxylic acids and metal chelates thereof. The compounds are particularly suitable for use as diagnostic agent. For example, the compounds can be used as radiodiagnostic agents, detoxification agents and contrast agents for diagnostic imaging processes. In particular, the high relaxivity paramagnetic metal chelates of substituted aminopolycarboxylic acids are especially suited for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

Abstract: There is provided a contrast medium composition comprising: (a) a first contrast agent comprising a physiologically tolerable manganese compound together with an uptake promoter, having a manganese concentration of at least 0.3 mM or being in a dosage unit form containing at least 300 .mu.mol manganese, wherein the uptake promoter comprises a physiologically tolerable reducing compound containing an .alpha.-hydroxy ketone group or a physiologically tolerable acid containing .alpha.- and/or .beta.- hydroxy or amino groups, or a salt thereof, and/or vitamin D; together with (b) a second contrast agent.Such compositions are particularly suitable for imaging of the liver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contrast agents comprising gas-containing or gas-generating polymer microparticles and/or microballoons, in which the polymer is a biodegradable polymer containing units of formula -?--(O).sub.m --CO--O--C(R.sup.1 R.sup.2)--O--CO--(O).sub.n --!- . R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent hydrogen or a carbon-attached monovalent organic group, or together form a carbon-attached divalent organic group, and m and n are each independently zero or one. The contrast agents may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.

Abstract: Contrast agents comprising gas-containing or gas-generating polymer microparticles and/or microballoons, in which the polymer is a biodegradable polymer containing units of formula--(O).sub.m --CO--O--C(R.sup.1 R.sup.2)--O--CO--(O).sub.n --(wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent hydrogen or a carbon-attached monovalent organic group or together form a carbon-attached divalent organic group, and m and n are each independently zero or one) may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use as contrast enhancing agents in medical imaging, especially X-ray imaging, of multinuclear complexes, i.e. complexes, such as those of W202 (U20) 2, in which the complexed entity comprises at least two contrast enhancing atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contrast agents comprising microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles in admixture with an amphiphilic organic acid containing in excess of 20 carbon atoms. The contrast agents exhibit good stability and/or enhanced contrast effect and may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.

Abstract: Heterocyclic chelating agents and salts thereof of formula I: ##STR1## wherein X represents a bond, O or S, or a group CHR.sup.1 or NR.sup.3 ; each R.sup.1 represents H, a group OR.sup.3 or NR.sup.3 R.sup.3, or an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl group or by a group NR.sup.3 R.sup.3 or CON.sup.3 R.sup.3 ;each R.sup.2 represents H, or an alkyl or alkoxy group optionally substituted by a hydroxyl or alkoxy group;each R.sup.3 represents H, an optionally hydroxylated alkyl group or a group CH.sub.2 Y;Y represents a group COZ, CON(OH)R.sup.4, POZ.sub.2 or SO.sub.2 Z,Z represents a group OR.sup.4, NR.sup.4 R.sup.4 or ##STR2## where each R.sup.11 is H, a hydroxyl group or an optionally hydroxylated alkyl group, s is 0, 1 or 2, and W is CHR.sup.11, NR.sup.11 or an oxygen atom; andeach R.sup.4 represents H, or an optionally mono- or poly-hydroxylated alkyl, alkoxyalkyl or polyalkoxyalkyl group;with the provisos that where s is 0 then W is CHR.sup.

Abstract: This invention relates to ultrasound contrast agents in the form of microparticles comprising a biotolerable matrix (e.g. of a carbohydrate or an X-ray contrast agent) in association with a gas or a precursor therefor. The contrast agents are stabilized to enhance their in vivo stability and/or echogenicity by covalently modifying the structure of the matrix, e.g. to introduce crosslinking groups or to attach lipophilic groups and/or molecules. The covalent moieties may include biodegradable linkages to assist rapid subsequent elimination of the contrast agents from the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contrast agents comprising microbubble-generating carbohydrate microparticles in admixture with an amphiphilic organic acid containing in excess of 20 carbon atoms. The contrast agents exhibit good stability and/or enhanced contrast effect and may be used in diagnostic applications such as ultrasound and MR imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to diagnostic ultrasound contrast agents comprising vesicles comprising an amphiphilic phospholipid material capable of formation of gas-containing vesicles wherein the vesicles contain gas which comprises a low molecular weight fluorinated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: This invention relates to ultrasound contrast agents in the form of microparticles comprising a biotolerable matrix (e.g. of a carbohydrate or an X-ray contrast agent) in association with a gas or a precursor therefor. The contrast agents are stabilized to enhance their in vivo stability and/or echogenicity by covalently modifying the structure of the matrix, e.g. to introduce crosslinking groups or to attach lipophilic groups and/or molecules. The covalent moieties may include biodegradable linkages to assist rapid subsequent elimination of the contrast agents from the system.